Banks’ Secret Bias Exposed! 🤯

Oh, look who’s finally doing the right thing… šŸ™ƒ Federal regulators revealed early evidence that major U.S. banks used internal policies to restrict lawful customers, exposing widespread debanking practices that may have shaped access to capital and economic activity nationwide. Because nothing says ā€œfairnessā€ like a bank judging your life choices. šŸ’ø

OCC Drops Bombshell: Banks Are Judging You, Literally 🧨

A federal review prompted new disclosures as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released preliminary findings on Dec. 10 showing how major banks handled debanking. The OCC said it issued the review results to determine whether the nation’s largest institutions restricted customers based on political or religious views or lawful business activities. Because, of course, banks are just so impartial. 🤔

The announcement states:

Although our work continues, the OCC is today providing visibility into the debanking actions against customers and lawful businesses taken by the nation’s largest banks to ensure public awareness, and to halt these harmful and unfair practices. Oh, now they care. šŸ™ƒ

The findings show that, between 2020 and 2023, all nine banks reviewed-JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and BMO Bank-used policies that created inappropriate distinctions among customers by restricting access to services or requiring elevated reviews. Because nothing says ā€œcustomer serviceā€ like a 100-page form and a side of judgment. 🤔

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould said: ā€œThe OCC is committed to ending efforts – whether instigated by regulators or banks – that would weaponize finance.ā€ He later stated that it was ā€œunfortunate that the nation’s largest banks thought these harmful debanking policies were an appropriate use of their government-granted charter and market power.ā€ Because, obviously, banks are just trying to help. 🤔

Additional findings indicate that several banks publicly disclosed values-based exclusions while simultaneously denying they engaged in debanking, prompting further scrutiny of how internal policies were applied. The OCC reported that many restrictions operated through enhanced due diligence channels that materially delayed or prevented account openings or transaction approvals for lawful businesses. Because, you know, capitalism has its limits. 🤔

FAQ ā°

  • What did the OCC’s preliminary review reveal about debanking?
    It found that major banks used internal policies that restricted lawful customers across multiple industries. Because, obviously, that’s not a thing that happens every day. 🤔
  • Which banks were included in the OCC’s debanking review?
    Nine of the nation’s largest banks-JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and BMO Bank-were examined. Because nothing says ā€œethicalā€ like a list of banks that think they’re the moral arbiters of the universe. 🤔
  • Which industries faced values-based banking restrictions?
    Oil and gas, coal, firearms, private prisons, tobacco, adult entertainment, and digital assets-because, you know, capitalism has its limits. 🤔
  • What actions will the OCC take next?
    The agency plans further updates and stronger standards to prevent discriminatory banking practices. Because, obviously, banks are just waiting to be told what to do. 🤔

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2025-12-11 06:58